After a full 10 months... Fishing line removed from baby dolphin 'Jongdali' that was being harassed

First Sighting of Fishing Line Entanglement in November Last Year
"Successful Cut, Swift Swim Away... Fishing Hook Remains"

Last November, a 6-month-old baby Jeju southern bottlenose dolphin named 'Jongdali' was found entangled in a fishing line, and after 10 months, it was freed from the fishing line wrapped around its body.

According to Yonhap News on the 17th, the Jeju Dolphin Emergency Rescue Team (hereafter 'Rescue Team'), consisting of the marine environmental group Hotpink Dolphins, marine documentary director 'Dolphin Man', and the Marine Animal Ecology Conservation Research Center (MARC), announced that on the afternoon of the 16th, they cut the fishing line that was tightly stretched from Jongdali's rostrum to its tail along its body.

Jongdari swimming together with its mother after cutting the fishing line wrapped around its body
[Photo by Jeju Dolphin Emergency Rescue Team, Yonhap News]

Jongdali was first spotted swimming in the waters off Jeju in early November last year, entangled from its rostrum to tail in discarded fishing gear such as fishing lines, when it was about 6 months old. The Rescue Team immediately informed the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of this fact and, after obtaining approval for the rescue of marine protected species in January, began full-scale rescue operations. During the first rescue, the team performed emergency treatment by removing seaweed attached to the fishing line entangled around Jongdali's tail fin. The length of the fishing line removed at that time was 2.5 meters, and the weight, including the attached seaweed, was 196 grams.

After the fishing line entangled around Jongdali's tail was removed, it showed a much freer appearance than before. However, fishing lines still remained around its mouth and body. Subsequently, the Rescue Team attempted several times to rescue Jongdali to completely remove the fishing line and treat its wounds but was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, during monitoring on the 15th, it was confirmed that Jongdali's condition had worsened, as it stayed afloat on the surface for longer than usual without leaving a certain area. The urgent Rescue Team and marine animal rescue and treatment institutions conducted rescue operations over two days from the 15th to the 16th, and after observing Jongdali's swimming behavior and responses, they decided to cut the fishing line around its body to facilitate movement instead of capturing it.

Director Lee Jeong-jun, also known as Dolphin Man, holding the fishing line that was caught on Jongdal's tail last January.
[Photo by Jeju Dolphin Emergency Rescue Team]

The Rescue Team reported that Jongdali's movements, such as swimming speed, diving time, and swimming posture, noticeably changed immediately after the fishing line was cut. The Rescue Team stated, "Jongdali could not straighten its body due to the fishing line and was bent, and the fishing line seriously interfered with the way the dolphin swims. However, immediately after cutting the fishing line, Jongdali quickly swam beside its mother dolphin and began to leave the area where it had been circling for two days."

Fishing lines and hooks still remain on Jongdali's rostrum and tail, so the Rescue Team plans to monitor Jongdali's condition and consult with marine animal rescue and treatment institutions to take necessary follow-up measures.